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Cape
Cod National Seashore

Cape
Cod National Seashore

For many, we think of Cape Cod as that tony New England seaside resort
for the rich and famous, or for the baseball fan, the place where
amateur players go for summer ball to get their first real test of wood
bats, as seen in the movie Summer Catch. But, that's
only a
very small part of the Cape Cod area, of which much resides in the
National Seashore that spreads all along the coast, including
lighthouses, beaches, beautiful scenery, and a whole lot of history.
There's nearly 44,000 acres of fun and wonder here.
Yes,
it's that big. So bring your sand chair and prepare for a
wide
open mouth, it's awe-inspiring, and it doesn't cost a ton to see it.
It stretches nearly twenty miles from its southernmost point
near
Chatham up to Provincetown. The main Visitor Center at Salt
Ponds
is about half way up the park; a second center open Spring to Fall is
outside Provincetown.

From the breathtaking views along this New England stretch of the
Atlantic springs lots of opportunities for recreation and vacation.
Take a hike on one of the many trails, take a swim on one of
six
swimming beaches, take a ride up and down the twenty miles of
coastline, or take a ranger guided hike to a lighthouse or learn about
Marconi and his transatlantic attempts to wireless across the sea way
before cell phones or find
out the mysteries of Fort Hill. You can walk by yourself or
guided, see seals, marshes, oceans, and dunes, even snorkel.

There's Cold War history here, too, in the Truro Air Force Station,
which is now turning itself into the Highlands Center right on the
bluffs of the ocean. It can be viewed both for its beautiful
setting, its Cold War past, and its future.

Things You
Should Not Miss

1. Take in a film. Sure, you're
really hankering
to get to the beach and see the sites, but spend a little time inside
either of the visitor centers, ... great for a rainy day, and learn
more about Cape Cod. There are films on maritime history, the
Revolution, Marconi, Thoreau, and the formation of Cape Cod.

2. Take in a beach. There are six swimming beaches inside the
park itself, others outside, with a variety
of charms; Coast Guard Beach, Nauset Light Beach, Marconi Beach, Head
of the Meadow Beach, Race Point Beach, and Herring Cove Beach.

3. Take in a Lighthouse. There's a whole lot of charm and
history
within the walls of these beacons to sailors, fishermen, and now
tourists. Within Cape Cod National Seashore, there are a
variety
of lighthouses, from those of the Three Sisters and Nauset Light to the
Highlands Light to Race Point Light, and also Chatham Lighthouse and
more outside
the park.

Some of the wildlife at Cape Code National Seashore (Photo
NPS)

What is
There Now

Park Visitor Centers

Salt
Ponds Visitor Center
- The main visitor center to the park is located in Eastham and
includes a theatre with five films about the park, which rotate
throughout the day, plus exhibits, views of Nauset Marsh, and hiking
trails.

Province Lands Visitor Center - Located near the
northern end of the park one mile from Provincetown, this visitor
center is open May to October and includes films, exhibits, and a great
view of the Outer Beach and Atlantic Ocean.

Lodging and
Camping

Lodging -
There is no lodging
or camping within the park itself, but plenty nearby. See
your
favorite online site such as Expedia or the Cape Cod Chamber of
Commerce for the type that might meet your needs.

Camping -
There's no camping in
the seashore either, but if that's what you're looking for, there's
Nickerson State Park close by Brewster, Massachusetts. They
have 420 campsites.

Cape
Cod Then
and Now

Cape Cod Then

History
didn't begin with Marconi at Cape Cod, but it is an interesting story
of how ingeniuity and scenery intersect. It was 1903 when
Henry communicated from the beaches of Cape Cod to Europe with
the
first two way wireless communication on January 18. For
fifteen
years after that, the Cape Cod station at South Wellpoint was the main
U.S. wireless telegraph point. Ask why the residents weren't
too
thrilled about that fact. It has something to do with loud
sparks. (Photo above: Courtesy LOC)

Cape Cod Now

Recreation - It can begin with a hike, or a swim on the
beach,
and continues with canoe trips (fees required) that guide you to Salt
Ponds and Nauset Bay. You can go shellfishing, cast into the
surf
for fish, or walk through or near the history of Cape Cod
Then.
There's history in architecture at the Atwood-Higgins House;
history of a whaling family at the Penniman House, as well as other
hikes to nature of the present or history of the past.
(Photo
courtesy NPS)

Cape Cod
National Seashore WeatherBe prepared for anything, it's New England.
Generally warm
in the summer with cool nights with thunderstorms and humidity in the
height of the summer. Remember, a National Seashore in New England is
not the same as in Florida, so the temps can get cooler on certain
days. Bring a variety of clothes and be prepared to change.

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